Headlines

A Christian University, Bible College & School of Ministry in Texas

Three Lions earn All-Conference honors

Rambo is RRAC Most Valuable Player

All-RRAC chooses Rambo, Nwelue, Gentry

WAXAHACHIE, Texas -- The end of the college basketball season brings with it post-season recognition for players and teams. After completing their best season on record, the Southwestern Assemblies of God University men’s basketball team has collected its share of attention, along with several individual performers.

The Red River Athletic Conference, which produced two teams in the NAIA’s Fab Four, sent three teams to the national tournament; SAGU (33-5), the University of St. Thomas (28-6) and Louisiana State University in Shreveport (27-7).

All three finished ranked in the Top 25 Coaches Poll; SAGU at No. 2, LSUS at No. 4 and St. Thomas, who won the RRAC tournament, at No. 23.

The Most Valuable Player award of the Red River went to the Lions’ Dominique Rambo (Dallas, Tx / Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Trinity Christian – Cedar Hill).

His 19.5 points per game average was second to LSUS senior guard Rodney Milum (22.9). Both players made just over 40% of their shots, with Rambo averaging 17.5 attempts per game.

His 76 three-point baskets ranked sixth in the RRAC, and his 29% accuracy rated No. 14. His 61% eye at the foul line was a significant improvement over his sophomore figures (50%).

The junior had much more to his game than shooting.

He led the RRAC (and the entire NAIA) is steals, with 135, an average of 3.55 per game. The 5’10 player who sported a smile and a Mohawk also passed for an average of 4.0 assists per outing, which rated No. 3 in the league.

What garnered more detection from coaches was when he made plays. His contributions in the clutch greatly altered outcomes.

The Purple Pride won nine games by five points or less and 17 times they managed to deliver triumphs by 10 or less. He was a key factor most of the time.

Ten players from the 14-teams were chosen to the RRAC All-Conference team, with Rambo being the Lions’ lone representative on the First Team. The complete team is posted here:

Sophomore Mike Nwelue (Lewisville, Tx / Lewisville HS), a 6’5 forward, was voted to the Second Team.
He averaged 10.4 ppg (27th in RRAC) by making a team-best .471 percent (#8) of his shots. The calm and highly focused Nwelue scored 10+ in twenty games.

Big Mike was second on the team in shot attempts, wristing 8.9 per contest.

Nwelue (like DWELL-way) led the Lions in rebounds by grabbing 7.2 per game (#9), with 41% of his caroms claimed on the offensive glass.

He rejected 32 shots (#4)and was known for an array thunder dunks. They came in transition, dump offs, alley-oop passes and off the window. His two-handed jams were best described as exclamation points.

The Honorable Mention list, a group of 13, includes another SAGU rep in junior Caleb Gentry (Hondo, Tx / Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Hondo HS). The 6’0 guard known by his hometown namesake, was often Rambo’s equal in terms of catalytic energy.